LIVE AT THE LYCEUM

Ukrainian National Opera: Carmen, 6th March All the drama of 19th-century Seville, performed by Dnipro Opera and a live orchestra. 7.30pm. £39.

Comedy in the Attic, 10th March Featuring some of the best comics on the circuit. 8pm. Tickets £12.

Gordon Buchanan – 30 Years in the Wild, 13th April Having produced some of the BBC’s most popular wildlife programmes, Gordon takes a look

Alice at Arley

back at 30 years behind and in front of the camera. 7.30pm. Tickets £26.50 (NHS workers £13).

Teechers: Leavers ’22, 20th-22nd April John Godber’s break-neck comedy about education for the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ and a generation left behind. Various times and prices.

Money for Nothing, 28th April Dire Straits tribute. 7.30pm. Tickets £29. www.crewelyceum.co.uk

Dead Funny

•2nd March, Synth City, Tom’s Tap & Brewhouse, Crewe If you like electronica of all genres, come along to Synth City. Bring your synth, modular rig, drum machine or any other gizmo, and feel free to get plugged in! Or just sit back with a drink and enjoy the sounds. 7pm. Free.

•2nd-4th March, Snowdrop Walks, Rode Hall Gardens, Congleton A beautiful end-ofwinter walk for all the family amid a wonderfully diverse landscape and over 70 varieties of snowdrops. 11am. £5.50 (child £2).

Jump down the Rabbit Hole on 8th April for a Easter experience as the Adventures in Wonderland unfold in the magical setting of Arley Hall and Gardens. Alice and friends have escaped the pages of Lewis Carroll’s marvellous tale, and an enchanted world has mysteriously sprung up in the grounds. Dress up and join in the fun as the muchloved story comes to life in a walkabout theatre show. Tickets are £16.50 (child £18.50, under-2s free) and include an Easter egg and the Bunny Tail trail. Book at www.arleyhalland gardens.com

All they want is you

Four outstanding musicians united by a common passion – their love of legendary rock band U2 across the decades – deliver a breathtaking show. If you’re missing Bono and crew, e U2 Experience at Alexander’s Live in Chester could be just what you’ve been looking for… On stage 9pm, tickets £11.50 from alexanderslive. seetickets.com

If comedy drama oats your boat, book a ticket for e Lonesome West at Chester Little eatre on 25th March

When Father Welsh is assigned to a tiny Irish town where nothing ever happens, two murders leave him fearing he made a bad decision. e show starts at 7.30pm, and tickets are £12 from www.chesterlittletheatre.co.uk

Be there if you dare…

Steeped in two thousand years of history, and with hundreds of ghost sightings, Chester claims to be one of the most haunted cities in Britain.

Every Saturday at 7.30pm, Chester Ghost Tours’ guides start on a journey around the eerie haunts of Chester’s mysterious and murky past, telling spine-chilling tales. Tours are £10. Book at www.chesterghosttour.co.uk to ensure a place.

Tune In

Easter weekend brings the annual Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival in venues around town.

Dr Feelgood, 7th April e current line-up of this classic – and class! – act features Kevin Morris on drums, Phil Mitchell on bass, the return of the legendary Gordon Russell on guitar, and Robert Kane (formerly of e Animals). 7.45pm. £22.95.

Circus Funtasia are back!

Welcome to a circus like no other… hear the roar of motorbike engines, see hair raising performances on the Wheel of Death., be enthralled by the energetic Cuban acrobatic troupe, the heart-stopping roller skating duo and laugh out loud with their awardwinning comedian ‘The Geek’. Book now for an unforgettable experience at www.circusfuntasia.co.uk or call 07706 168507. Warrington: 30th March-16th April, Crewe: 20th April-1st May

A sight for sore feet

A half-hour City Cruise is the perfect way to take in historic Chester, heading upstream under Queen’s Park suspension bridge, past the Boathouse Inn and Grosvenor Park, and through picturesque Boughton.

ere’s a fully stocked bar on board, so enjoy a hot or cold drink as you take in the scenery. Tickets £7.65 (senior £7.20, child £2.70). www.chesterboat.co.uk

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF 4TH-18TH MARCH

DID YOU KNOW?

The late Phillip Martin started Nantwich Jazz back in 1997. Here’s to Phillip!

Turin Brakes, 8th April Best known for their chart hit ‘Pain Killer (Summer Rain)’, the band has racked up seven top 40 singles and an incredible seven top 40 albums. 7.45pm. Tickets £26.

Hue and Cry & China Crisis, 10th April Sophisti-pop duo Hue and Cry formed back in 1983 and post-punk synth-pop China Crisis in 1979, and both bands are still producing new and relevant work. 7pm. Tickets £24. www.nantwichjazz.com

Tasty!

Taste Cheshire Food & Drink Festival is back at Chester Racecourse for Easter weekend, 8th10th April, with over 150 exhibitors, celebrity chefs, cooking classes for adults and kids and lots to see, try and buy for the whole family. With headliners like John Torode and Simon Rimmer, tickets will sell like… well, hot cakes! A threeday Roamer is £20 in advance, day tickets £12 (under-12s free). chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk

A Wish And A Whirl

Visit BeWILDerwood Cheshire this March for some magical Wish Whirling. Craft a Wish Whirler at the Big Hat, enjoy a sparkly story and get your face painted with swirls. It’s all included in the entry price (which depends on height!). From 1st April hunt for the Pesky Bunnies. Create Bunny Ears, then hop to the facepainting pavilion to complete your look! www.bewilderwood.co.uk

•From 4th March (every Saturday and Sunday), Open Water Swimming, Manley Mere, Cheshire Sessions for NOWCA members only (to join please visit nowca.org). Distances of 750m, 500m & 250m loop. 10am. £7, 10-session bundle £65.

•7th March & 4th April, Peerto-Peer Networking for Micro Businesses, Scope House, Crewe Regular networking events to widen connections and help local businesses build collaborations for future success. 9.30am. Free.

•8th March, The Sacconi String Quartet, Chester Music Society Celebrity Concert, St Mary's Creative Space, Chester The Sacconi Quartet performs with style and commitment, and is known throughout the world for its creativity and integrity of interpretation, reaching out to audiences with energy and enthusiasm. 7.30pm. £17.

•11th March, Stabat Mater Dolorosa, St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield Sogno di Stabat Mater (2005) is a reworking of some of Pergolesi’s themes, seen through a contemporary lens and featuring solo violin and viola. Joyful concerti grossi by Handel and Corelli complete the programme. 7.30pm. £25.

•18th March, Klezmer-ish, Clonter Opera Theatre, Macclesfield From rip-roaring klezmer and dynamic tango to their self-penned gypsy jazz, Klezmer-ish are four outward-looking, classically trained musicians, who met whilst playing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. 7.30pm. Tickets from £10.50.

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

•19th March, Cholmondeley Castle Gardens

These glorious gardens reopen on Mothering Sunday with a One Million Da odil Spectacular, and will then be open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, 10am-5pm. From £8.50 (child £4, under-5s free).

•22nd March & 26th April, Netwalk Delamere, Delamere Forest When you have a wonderful destination on your doorstep, why wouldn't you get up from your desk and head outdoors as part of your work day? Join local business people networking in a delightful environment. Make connections whilst stretching your legs! 10am. Free.

•29th March, Sandbach Concert Series, St Mary's Church Hall, Sandbach Winners of the 2021 Royal Overseas String Ensemble prize, the Echéa Quartet performs string quartets by Haydn, Bartok and Britten. 7pm. £12.

•1st April, Art & Craft Club Exhibition, Capenhurst Community Hall, Great Sutton Beautiful paintings by members, plus craft table, ra e, games, jewellery and bags. Refreshments available, including home-made cakes. 11am. Entry free.

•2nd April, Bunker Military Sale, Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich This sale of military surplus is a great day out for the family! Browse outdoor and indoor stalls, with tea, co ee and cakes available in the hangar. 10am. Tickets £13.80 (child £7).